"That won't do."
Ian shook his head with a smile. "My respected teacher deserves me to be the one to see him off personally."
It wasn't that he intended to kill Kaido-sensei, but after this defeat, Kaido-sensei no longer had the qualification to claim the great treasure. In other words, he was effectively out of the game.
"But before that," Ian chuckled, "you can have a little fun with him. Just know, my teacher's strength is no joke."
"I'm looking forward to it!"
Bullet truly smiled with anticipation.
Yet, he didn't realize.
He seemed to have grown accustomed.
Accustomed to following behind Ian.
Just like he once followed someone else.
Ian landed back on the deck of the Golden Dragon. The ship was still intact.
Although he had long wanted to switch ships, it wasn't the right time yet. At least, they could wait until this battle was over.
The fight ended. The pirates boarded the ship once more, preparing for the second assault.
At the same time, the crew also returned to the deck, where they saw Bullet standing behind Ian, clutching his chest from his injuries.
"Looks like the bet paid off."
Law said with a laugh.
"Then this battle is practically a sure thing."
Jack felt genuine excitement for Big Brother Ian's victory.
Bullet's arrival had once again greatly strengthened their force.
"Law, come here," Ian beckoned him over. "Go treat Bullet."
Luffy leapt forward, landing nearby, his gaze calm as he looked at Bullet's wound.
There was no denying it—the smooth, gaping hole looked terrifying.
"Oh! Oh! Oh! Ian! What's going on right now?"
Morgans flapped his wings impatiently and darted forward. He couldn't fly, but at least he could use them to boost his jumps.
"The Demon Heir, Douglas Bullet, is standing with you? What's your relationship?"
He was genuinely curious!
So curious, in fact, that if he couldn't know the truth immediately, he felt like he might explode!
"Well, for now—"
Ian smiled. It wasn't really a secret he couldn't share. "Bullet is my partner, right?"
He tilted his head toward Bullet, who was receiving treatment from Law.
Bullet paused for a moment, then spoke calmly, "A bet's a bet. Of course, I'm following your lead now."
"Oh! Oh!! Oh!!!"
Morgans screamed, each shout higher than the last.
By the end, it was almost a hoarse, desperate roar.
"Is this even possible? Can this really be happening?"
Morgans' excitement made it hard for him to breathe; his chest heaved so violently it looked like it might burst. "Ian! You've really done it! That's Douglas Bullet! The world-famous monster!!"
Ian just smiled modestly.
If it weren't for the world-renowned Bullet, he wouldn't have gone through all this trouble.
"Can I announce this to the whole world immediately?"
Morgans asked, full of hope.
Ian looked at him with a faint smile. "What do you think?"
"Hahaha!"
Morgans laughed loudly, scratching the back of his head, his face full of joy. "Then I'll wait until you finish your fight with Kaido before spreading the news."
"Exactly. Gathering all the explosive news at once will have an even greater impact."
Ian smiled.
This guy knew how to read the situation.
Of course, it probably helped that his heart was still in Ian's hands.
In any case, the fleet finally set sail, heading straight toward the Wano Country seas in a grand formation.
Twenty-nine warships, a pirate fleet of over twenty thousand.
Besides Ian and his companions, the fleet included the Beast Giant Corps led by Solem and Himir, the five allied pirate crews under Jinbei's command,
And, for the first time, Bartholomew Kuma fighting under Ian's banner.
Finally, there was Bullet, who had just joined them.
Honestly, Ian felt that this force was already enough to face the Navy Headquarters head-on.
Using it against Kaido-sensei's Wano Country division was like using anti-aircraft guns to swat mosquitoes.
But, after all, Kaido-sensei was the one he respected the most.
As his most prized disciple, he had to show some deference to him.
Meanwhile, news of the massive army gathering on Hive Island had already reached certain ears.
Mariejois.
"Ian has set out on an expedition?"
Peter, one of the Five Elders in a red suit, looked somewhat surprised. "Such a huge operation—who is the target?"
"Could it be the NEO Navy?"
Saturn, with the big beard, guessed, "Has he finally found that Zephyr guy?"
"It could also be the Charlotte family."
One of the sword-wielding Elders said, "Charlotte Linlin has a Red Poneglyph. Maybe Ian is after that Poneglyph."
"Why not Kaido?"
Mars, with a long beard, added, "Perhaps Ian is finally ready to settle all scores with Kaido."
"Keep an eye on them for now."
Bald Warcury said, "Let the Navy prepare. Whoever he decides to fight, it won't be a bad thing for us. Let them fight to mutual exhaustion."
"Maybe we'll even gain something from it."
They weren't the only ones with news.
Whole Cake Island.
"That brat—what is he up to this time?"
Linlin was shocked. "He wouldn't be after me, would he? He still hasn't returned my child to me!"
By now, the child was already several months old!
She hadn't even known she was a mother yet, and he had gone ahead and had the child for her—was that even reasonable?
"No matter what, Mom, we should prepare first."
Katakuri said seriously, "We can't be caught off guard this time."
"Then let that brat come!"
Linlin was full of confidence. "It's time he sees just how powerful I've become!"
She was no longer the same as before; this was completely different from the last time she had faced Ian!
A little over a week later, the large fleet under Ian's command had entered the waters of Wano Country.
The war, in all its intensity, began from this moment.
Buzz!!
A sudden roar came from the sky.
Ian, who had been basking in the sun on the deck, looked up.
Above, several warplanes were diving rapidly, their sharp buzzing slicing through the air.
"Oh!"
Ian chuckled lightly. "Kaido-sensei is really taking this seriously."
This was a truly full-scale war.
Even since his return to Wano, they had been under constant attacks.
"But afterward, it's all our own people, so there's no need to be too serious."
Ian said, "Jinbei, go rescue them."
Before his words had even finished, the planes in the sky flipped and plummeted toward the sea.
The pirates piloting these warplanes rolled their eyes, foaming at the mouth, and passed out completely, losing all consciousness.
Meanwhile, Jinbei had already instructed several Fish-Man warriors to dive into the water, ready to rescue anyone.
During the fleet's journey to Wano, they faced numerous harassments.
Flying squadrons attacking from the sky, Fish-Man units striking from the sea.
Yet, none of it caused any real damage.
After all, there were four people in the fleet capable of using Conqueror's Haki, and each one was a top-tier powerhouse.
And just like that, Wano Country had been reached.
**********
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